Sorry, Alpha. You’re Not His Dad Anymore Chapter 07

Sorry, Alpha. You’re Not His Dad Anymore Chapter 07

The High Council convened in Moon Goddess Valley.

It would hear the dispute over Theo’s bloodline together with my petition for the unilateral

dissolution of our mate bond.

12 stone chairs encircled a silver flame. Beneath the full moon, no Alpha pressure could compel a

weaker wolf to submit, and no mate bond could hide a lie.

Damian stood across the flames in the formal attire of Blackthorn’s Alpha.

For the first time in 6 years, he wore our mate ring in public.

“Theo is my biological pup.”

He faced the 12 councilors. “Conflict between his parents should not deprive him of his bloodline.

I am prepared to restore Aria’s title as Luna immediately, hold Theo’s moon-naming ceremony, and

recognize him as Blackthorn’s sole heir.”

Every sentence promised something I had once dreamed of.

Not one asked whether Theo or I still wanted it.

An elder turned toward me.

“Dr. Bennett, Alpha Damian is willing to return everything that belonged to you. Why do you refuse?”

“Because we aren’t two titles waiting for him to give us back.”

I looked directly at Damian.

“When was Theo born?”

His lips moved.

No answer came.

“What was the name of his favorite toy when he was 3?”

Damian remained silent.

“What song calms him when he has a fever? What vegetable does he hate? What’s the name of his

young wolf?”

“Aria-”

“You remember that Celeste hates the smell of disinfectant. You remember that her daughter

weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces at birth. But you didn’t read your own son’s allergy report until after

you nearly killed him with hazelnuts.”

Haid 6 years of medical records before the council.

The same note appeared after every high fever and every bloodline disturbance.

Paternal Alpha blessing requested. Father refused.

The last page was from the night Celeste gave birth.

+25 Points

Patient called for his father during a high fever. Father was in the same building and didn’t appear.

The silver flame illuminated Damian’s bloodless face.

“Blood only gives you a duty to know him. It doesn’t reward you with the right to be his father because you showed up 6 years late.”

The elder summoned Theo.

He looked so small beneath the 12 stone pillars.

Rowan stood where Theo could see him. He didn’t take Theo’s hand or place a palm on his

shoulder.

Damian dropped to one knee and brought out the heir’s moonstone.

“Theo, you can keep the Bennett name and continue living in the North. I only ask that you don’t

sever your Blackthorn bloodline. Please give me time to learn how to be your father.”

Theo removed the last Blackthorn crest from his collar and placed it in Damian’s palm.

“I used to ask all the time if I could call you Dad.”

Damian’s fingers clenched sharply.

“Every time, you said no.”

Theo stepped back.

“Now I’m saying no too.”

No one in the valley spoke.

The eldest councilor raised his staff.

“Damian Blackthorn knowingly concealed his mate bond with Aria, despite recognizing her as his fated mate. He knowingly refused his paternal Alpha duties to his biological pup, Theo, and used his power to suppress the status of both mother and child. Aria Bennett’s petition for unilateral dissolution of the mate bond is granted.”

The staff struck the ground.

The mark behind my shoulder tore completely apart.

Agony pierced my heart, and Lyla threw back her head in one final wail.

On the far side of the silver flame, Damian collapsed to his knees.

His claws gouged deep scars into the ground.

My body instinctively took half a step toward him.

Rowan didn’t stop me.

He didn’t even tell me Damian was unworthy of my grief.

That freedom from command allowed me to stop on my own.

I covered the bleeding scar of my old mark and wept once for the woman I had been 6 years ago,

the woman who had believed fate was the same as love.

Then I turned away.

The councilor struck his staff again.

“Theo Bennett is released from all Blackthorn claims of inheritance and affiliation. Until he comes

of age, no wolf may use blood ties to force him to change his choice.”

Damian lifted his head.

“Theo…”

Theo walked past him.

He stopped in front of Rowan.

Rowan still didn’t reach out-until Theo took his hand first.